Vol. XXVII. 

 1910 



1 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 59 



was a live one, and, further, he always looked forward to its 

 monthly publication with pleasure. 



He wanted on this occasion to try and interest the members 

 and visitors in the capabilities of those truly Australian trees, the 

 gum-trees. Much investigation of their products had been 

 undertaken, but far more remained to be done. The Americans 

 were systematically exploiting our country for their own benefit. 

 In many ways they really knew more about our gum-trees and 

 their capabilities than we did ourselves, while the Germans were 

 equally keen as regards the oil production. Australians seemed 

 to have no idea of the valuable asset they possess in the many 

 varieties of eucalyptus. Their sole aim seemed to be to clear the 

 land of all timber as quickly as possible, and if they did happen 

 to plant a tree or two for shelter to use the vegetation of some 

 other land which was quite unsuitable for the conditions existing 

 here. His recent visit to South Australia had greatly interested 

 him, for he found that near Adelaide great use was being made 

 of the Sugar Gum as an avenue tree and for break-winds. When 

 travelling in the express he could not but remark the great extent 

 of treeless plains on the western side of Melbourne, and hoped 

 that ere long they would be replanted. When he arrived in 

 Australia 30 years ago and commenced the study of the 

 Eucalyptus genus he quickly came to the conclusion that quite as 

 much in the way of classification could be done by the chemistry 

 of the oils as by the study of the external parts of the trees, and 

 he had many times since proved that trees which to the lay 

 observer seemed identical, if considered by their oil produced 

 were totally different. It might be said that difference of situation 

 or soil or age might account for the chemical differences in the 

 oil, but he had found that the oil — E. amygdalina, for instance — 

 yielded the same chemical constituents whether produced in 

 America, Algeria, Victoria, or New South Wales. He maintained, 

 therefore, that in dealing with the Eucalyptus chemistry and botany 

 must work hand in hand. Australia was remarkable for the 

 uniformity of its forest trees, and this was attributable to the fact 

 that for many thousands of years there had been no great 

 upheavals or submergences. AustraHa had long been dry land 

 when the other continents were in process of development. It 

 might be said to be in a quiescent state from a geological point 

 of view. Hence we find a constancy in its fauna and flora not 

 met with in the other continents. Its fauna and flora consisted 

 in a great part of forms which had disappeared from other 

 quarters of the globe, therefore, when Captain Cook discovered 

 Botany Bay, 140 years ago, the naturalists accompanying him 

 were at once struck with the singularity of its fauna and flora. 

 It was a remarkable fact that the first Australian product sent to 

 England was some eucalyptus oil, consigned to a Mr. Wilson. 

 He would very much like to know what became of that oil. The 



